Bicycle rider in court

M

msdw24

1,000+ Posts
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So I came upon this on Twitter. Seems to be a bike rider in the North Texas area was thrown in jail for "impeeding traffic".
After reading the story and looking at the pictures, I have to agree with the State Trooper on this one.
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I read a few paragraphs. The guy is an ***.

I give bicyclists breaks when I'm behind the wheel of my car not just because I don't want to hurt them but because bicyclists often don't have a lot of good choices about how they get around on the roads. I get that they have a right to the road equal to mine.

I've seen hundreds of bicyclists using the shoulder on busy roads. They're smarter than this ***. I don't wish this guy ill, but he is more likely to cost bicyclists rights on the road rather than insure them. One day, an inattentive driver will come up on him too fast and either hit him or swerve into problems for other drivers.
 
Stupid. Even if he did have the right to the road, it's dumb. Doesn't matter who was right or wrongwhen you are dead.
 
As someone who lived near Hancock Center while in college, I have to say I freaking hate bikers who ride on busy streets. Case in point, Red River Street. These guys go 10-15 mph max on a cramped 4 lane street that has a 30 mph speed limit and ride right in the middle of the side lanes making it impossible for people to go around them. This causes cars to bail for the middle lanes and make back ups going up and down the street. Solution? Take one of the many cross streets (avenues a-h, speedway even has a bike path) or the sidewalk. But for your own safety get the hell off RR. When I had to bike to work along 38th near campus I always went on the sidewalk, mostly because I didn't feel like getting run over.
 
Can't cops give you a ticket for being on the sidewalk? It may depend on the road and how much access is available but I am pretty sure they can and do if they choose to. I know, I know, it's better than getting hit.
 
45th is one of the worst. 35mph speed limit, somewhat narrow lanes, several sharp turns, and you've got some cyclist clogging up the right lane while he's panting and sweating trying to get up the hill.
 
Bicyclists have the right to travel on all but a few divided highways, and they don't have the right to travel on sidewalks. However, a bicycle should travel to impede traffic as little as possible and still maintain their own safety.
What this means is if there is a safe path to the right, i.e. a fully paved shoulder, the bicycle should move over and let the traffic go by safely. But if there isn't enough room in the lane for a bicycle and a car, the bicycle should move more to the left to take up the lane, and the car should wait until it is safe to pass.
Share the road, you haters. Both motorists and cyclists can be unsafe and/or jerks. Try not to be in either category. I ride a bicycle for fitness, although it is usually out on Parmer past 620, or other roads with a shoulder. But not always-sometimes I have to share the road in the manner explained above. I would appreciate one of you not trying to run me over during those times.
 
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In the City of Austin, bicycles do have the right to travel on sidewalks, with a few exceptions:

Congress Ave. from the river to the Capitol
Guadalupe from MLK to 25th Street
Sections of:
-Brazos
-Colorado
-2nd
-5th
-6th
-8th
-9th
-11th
-15th

All other sidewalks are free game, though if there is a bike lane available, I believe you should have to ride in it instead. Shoal Creek comes to mind. I've also heard under-informed policemen have written tickets to and hassled cyclists for riding on sidewalks that were legal for their use. So, I'd probably have a copy of the ordinance, along with my permit, if I decided to hit the walks.














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If you are going to ride your bike on the highway or where the cars are.. You should have to have an inspection sticker and registration just like the rest of us. THEN you can be my equal on the road.

Until then, I will honk and make fun of you as I drive by.
 
You guys are fortunate you live in Austin. In Boulder, we have bike lanes everywhere, but the packs of bikers are so huge, that they spill out into the road. They just passed the "3 foot law", whereby you give the biker a minimum of 3 feet when you pass them, including going into oncoming lanes if therre is not an oncoming vehicle. If there is an oncoming vehicle, you slow down behind the biker until you can safely pass. I use my windshield washer when I pass to annoy them.
 
i ride a bike. i would never think of riding in the middle of the road unless it was absolutely necessary or there were no cars. asshat.
 
I've biked plenty on streets, highways, and on sidewalks. (And I am not out of shape in the least, if that's a qualification for having an opinion.) The crazy militant bikers need to get a grip. Their self-righteousness is not going to end well. People like this guy in the story waving around some law in his favor is most likely to end in a change in the law that he doesn't like, because riding in the highway is ridiculous, and any reasonable person should be able to see that.
 
Accurate hit the nail on the head. I ride watching out for my own *** while trying to be considerate of those on the road around me (both riders and drivers). I'll ride on the shoulder and/or bike lane if there is one and if there is not, or its not safe, then I'll ride in the lane. I avoid busy streets with no bike lanes/shoulders wherever possible to avoid as much traffic as possible. The guy in the story may be an asshat but if there is no specific law (like in Washington where if 5 cars are behind you, you must pull over and let them pass) then nothing will happen to him.

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I try to make happy vibes when riding around when I can just like others here. If I am at an intersection waiting for the light and a car comes up behind me I look to see if they have their blinker to turn. If they are making a right turn and I may be in a spot to make them hesitate I will move way out of the way and motion them by.

They almost always really appreciate it by waving or saying thanks somehow. That makes me happy because maybe, just maybe they have been a hater in the past and will change their future behavior. That is until some jackass blows stop signs or lights and almost gets hit by them. Then it is back where we started.

I was a bike messenger in D.C. and trust me that is some dangerous riding. Not as bad as NYC or as rigorous as San Fran couriers had it but pretty tough. I cannot bring myself to ride that way any longer and find myself much more obedient of traffic laws and safety. The funny thing is that now I have insurance and ride with caution. When I did not have it I was so reckless I don't know how I survived.
 
I like riding my bike but i also like not being an *******. I know when one means the other. I live on a very narrow 2 way road so I bike when there arent many people on the road and if I'm holding up traffic I make ssure I let them pass.

I dont feel like im letting the cause down or anything.
 
Register your bike, buy insurance, ride in the bike lanes or on the right side of the road, obey traffic rules INCLUDING stopping at stop signs, signaling turns, etc., and most drivers, including me, will be pleased to share the road with you.
 
Bike riders who ride on streets that don't have a shoulder, bike lane or speed limit less than 20 mph are selfish ********. All of them. There are plenty of streets that meet these criteria for them to ride on without being selfish (or "sharing the road" as they like to put it) and screwing up traffic on other roads. I don't care if it means riding around a residential block 100 to 150 times to get your distance in.
 
Cars which drive three times as fast as bicycles are hazards to cyclists' right to commute safely-stay off the road.
You have no right to be there that any other vehicle, like a bicycle, has. Same rights. Share the road or stay off it.
You might be happier walking, although I'm sure you would complain if a cyclist tried to ride on the sidewalk with you.
How about being courteous and safe with other cars, pedestrians, and cyclists, like the rest of (or at least the vast majority) us?
 
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